Page:The spirit of the leader (IA spiritofleader00heyl).pdf/27

 The circular was a clever piece of journalistic enterprise, but Perry did not think of that. He had been afraid to mention his ambitions; now, all at once, the fear was gone. They could not celebrate him as an uproarious joke after asking him to declare himself. In a moment all the hot desire to have part in the athletic life of Northfield was rampant in his veins. To come and go with the football crowd, to be one of them in fact and in spirit, to do his part for the team and the school, to go into dressing room and gym with none to stop him at the door! His breath began to quicken.

"Anybody seen Praska?" he demanded hurriedly.

"Just went upstairs," said a voice.

Perry's long, thin legs took the stairs two at a time. On the second floor he overtook the football guard walking toward Room 13.

"George! Wait a minute. Did you know yesterday about this circular?"

"The whole squad knew about it."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"We had promised the Breeze. They wanted to catch the school by surprise with a real piece of news—use it to impress the freshmen and get subscriptions."

"Well" All at once Perry found his